Failure of agricultural bore wells in hardrock areas of Andhra Pradesh: a diagnostic analysis
India is one of the most water-short countries in the world. With 16% of the world’s population and only 4% of total available freshwater, India is challenged by overall and relative water scarcity. Water may prove to be the crux of further development in many parts of India, as water is required for further socio-economic development, for attaining food security and other Millennium Development Goals. Water scarcity is the expression of a physical, but just as much, or even more, an expression of socio-economic and developmental limitations. Hence, addressing such complex issues requires integrated approaches hinged on a fundamental understanding of the physical as well as socio-economic context in which they exist. Andhra Pradesh state in the southern part of India exemplifies the problem complex described above. In Andhra Pradesh, ten percent of the micro basins out of 1229 are considered over-exploited as per the classification done during 2007-08. Electricity is the prime source of energy for pumping groundwater in Andhra Pradesh, and most of the 2.6 million wells in Andhra Pradesh are connected to the electricity grid. Currently, electricity supply is provided free of cost to farmers via wide government subsidy schemes, but for seven hours a day only. Drying up of open as well as bore wells; reducing water yields from wells due to interference; burning of electric motors due to over-loaded distribution transformers are some of critical issues affecting water security and agriculture. In this over-all context, this project attempts to address the inequalities in access to water for drinking and agriculture and promote efficient water use methods through community-based actions and sustainable methods of resource governance at local level in selected project areas.